Top Army commander in Pacific to retire

FORT SHAFTER, Hawaii (AP) - The Army's top general in the Pacific is retiring and preparing to hand over leadership of the command to a four-star general.

The Army is holding a retirement ceremony for Lt. Gen. Francis Wiercinski at U.S. Army Pacific headquarters on Oahu on Tuesday.

His successor Lt. Gen. Vincent Brooks will take over during another ceremony next month. Brooks will also be promoted to general and receive a fourth star.

A three-star general has led U.S. soldiers in the Asia-Pacific region for decades. The assignment of a four-star general to the position puts the Army on par with the Navy and the Air Force, who already have four-star commanders in the Pacific.

Wiercinski says the appointment demonstrates the Army is serious about shifting to the Pacific region.

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The Pennsylvania Judicial Center serves as an administrative headquarters for Pennsylvania’s courts which are administered by the Supreme Court. (Source: Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania)

Court records in a monthslong legal fight over the report say it identifies more than 300 "predator priests" and that grand jurors accuse church leaders of brushing aside victims to protect abusers and church institutions.

Court records in a monthslong legal fight over the report say it identifies more than 300 "predator priests" and that grand jurors accuse church leaders of brushing aside victims to protect abusers and church institutions.